In a vast island empire ruled by a great family, six different ethnic groups lived together, each thriving within their own regions. The island thrived on the harmony of this diversity. But on the hidden side of that coin, this was a hypocritical and dangerous land — a place where magic existed, class differences ran deep, and mysterious dungeons lurked beneath the surface.
It was in this world that Mitsuki Yusha found himself overwhelmed with trouble.
While checking the crops in his field, his father Haruto was attacked by an orc that had escaped from a dungeon to hunt. By chance, an Imperial Union patrol passing through the area intervened quickly and neutralized the orcs. Haruto had been severely injured. The Union personnel immediately moved him to a safe place for treatment. But when his wife arrived after hearing the commotion outside, despair — the purest kind — was written across her face as she looked at her husband lying motionless on the ground. The healers must have noticed the situation, because they approached the woman and explained his condition in a soft voice.
Haruto was alive.
But from that day forward, he was bedridden and unable to walk.
The poor woman did not know what to do. She felt the relief of knowing her husband was alive, yet she also carried the heavy knowledge that he would remain paralyzed and unable to move for the rest of his life.
That day, Mitsuki — Haruto's eldest son — had to make a choice. He would either follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer, or he would provide for his family with the precious stones he found in dangerous dungeons. With the money he earned, he would cover the school fees so his younger sister — two years his junior — could continue her education at a magic school in the capital. Perhaps he did not hold much hope for his own future, but he believed in his sister. He believed wholeheartedly that she would become an elite mage. And then, of course, there were all the household expenses and the full responsibility of the entire family resting on his shoulders.
The next morning, he silently left the house without being seen by anyone.
He knew that the orc that had attacked his father could not have wandered far from the dungeon. He thought it must have come from the great forest that lay beyond the fields. His main goal was to locate the dungeon — later, he would form a team and gather the necessary equipment. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he moved through the trees into the great forest that stretched ahead. As he went deeper, the surroundings grew silent, but he saw nothing worth noting. He quickened his pace and looked around impatiently, yet he still found no trace of anything.
"Where did this orc come from? There isn't even a single trail..."
But before he could finish that thought, he began tumbling down into a massive rift in the ground.
The first thing he felt when he hit the bottom was pure shock. The lush, calm beauty of the forest had perfectly concealed the existence of this rift beneath the earth. The floor was far wider than he had expected. He could only lift his head after pulling his senses back together. His eyes were drawn to the dark structure rising before him. At first, he could not understand what it was — but then it hit him.
"This... this is a dungeon entrance!"
The words left him before he could stop them. Built from cold stone and smelling of damp and age, the structure looked worn as if from ancient times, silently draining the very life from his soul.
For a while, he stood frozen, his feet seemingly bolted to the ground as he stared at the dungeon. Climbing back up from where he had fallen was nearly impossible, yet he couldn't just stand there either. What would he eat? What would he drink? Moreover, sooner or later, he would be noticed by the creatures within. Staying here like this was no different than surrendering. Dungeons always had a second exit — Yusha knew this, so he had no choice but to take his chances.
A moment of hesitation flickered in his eyes, but it did not stop him from taking that step.
As Yusha moved further into the dungeon, the structure's distinct architecture began to reveal itself. From the walls to the ceiling, almost everything was made of hardened clay. Even the occasional small items and plates he came across were fashioned from the same deep red clay.
As he ventured deeper into the structure, the only sound reaching his ears was the echo of his own footsteps.
"I've come this far... but why haven't I encountered a single monster yet?"
The strange silence filling the wide corridors and the orderly architecture made him question everything he thought he knew.
"Are dungeons really supposed to be like this?"
Yusha shook his head.
"Whatever... I need to find the exit. There's no point in lingering!"
He took a step or two.
Fhumm!
Unexpectedly, a nearby room lit up.
The moment Yusha entered the unfamiliar room hoping to find an exit, the torches mounted on the walls flickered to life all at once. As the light grew stronger, he saw a large bowl placed atop a wide stone in the center of the room. Surrounding the stone, a ring had been carved into the floor, and along this ring, candles were arranged at perfectly equal intervals. What caught Yusha's attention, however, were the words inscribed on the surface of the stone beneath the bowl:
"Let the one who desires to return follow the trail of light; let the one who awakens the flames be reunited with the place they deserve."
As the inscription faded, the liquid inside the bowl began to glow with a deep blue light — and slowly, the shape of a sword rose to the surface.
When Yusha took the sword, the blue liquid was silently absorbed back into the bowl.
As he continued walking, things began to take an even stranger turn. Almost everything he saw was nearly identical to what he had seen before. The walls, the ceilings, the floors, the placement of the torches — they all looked the same. No, they were exactly the same. Moving through the dim light of the dungeon only made his headache worse. Because of this pain, his focus was slowly draining away — like grains of sand falling one by one through an hourglass — and he could no longer gather his thoughts.
His heart began to race. His breathing grew irregular. There was an indescribable weight pressing upon his body. In that moment, countless memories began to take root in Yusha's mind — countless memories flowing past his eyes like a flood he could not stop. They were memories that had never existed.
Haaa-haaahh... hhh — aaah!
He screamed in agony. He was suffering more than he ever had before. His screams echoed on for a while, and finally, unable to endure it any longer, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
THUUDDD!
When Yusha opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a clear, deep blue sky. For a moment, he thought he had escaped the dungeon. Even the mere thought of it was enough to make his heart race. To understand where he was, he pushed himself up from the ground and looked around.
This place was neither a full plain nor quite a forest. Trees were dotted here and there, and the grass reached above knee height. With the hope of finding someone, he began to walk along a path cutting through the middle of this vast meadow. After advancing a bit, he noticed the path beginning to widen as other trails merged into it. Accompanied by the gentle rustling of leaves, he continued on his way for about half an hour.
Then, he began to hear a sound slowly rising behind him. When he turned around, he saw wagons carrying various goods. As they approached him, they began to slow down.
"Hey, young man! What are you doing out here all by yourself?" Yusha answered without losing his composure. "I'm heading to the nearest city. I entered a dungeon and passed out shortly after. When I woke up, I found myself here." The face of the old man driving the wagon shifted instantly. For a moment, his eyes grew wide like saucers, and his breathing quickened noticeably. In this world, there existed ancient spells and holy weapons unique to the Seven Heroes — and these could only be wielded by the direct descendants of the Seven Great Heroes. (Upon seeing a HERO heir who maintains the order of the Empire, he spoke with an expression far more reverent and welcoming)
—Lord Hero, the nearest place from here is the capital of the Empire. If you would grace us with your company to the palace, I am certain a private chamber will be reserved for you there.
After a brief hesitation, Yusha nodded. It was far more logical to go with a stranger than to remain stranded in this vast, endless wasteland; at the very least, he would trust his gut and take the chance. He approached the wagon and climbed up beside the man in one swift motion.
—Understood. I will accompany you to the palace, though I am truly curious as to why you have suddenly started treating me with such formality.
(The man replied with a voice filled with obedience and grace)
—As you command, my lord.
(Once Yusha was seated, the man began to drive, and the cargo wagons behind followed suit. Then, the man turned to Yusha and continued)
—By the will of God, seven great heroes, divinely chosen, were sent to this world to vanquish the ancient beasts. Yet, they did not succeed. They could only put the ancient beasts into a temporary slumber by staking their very lives. In this war fought for humanity, some survived to wither away under the heavy burden of those days, while others spent their lives haunted by the agony of never seeing their loved ones again. To this day, it remains a dark stain upon human history. —You are a descendant of the Hero of the Sword among the Seven Great Heroes, which is why the blade was bequeathed directly to you. I am not even close to being an equal to a hero; it is not my place. You deserve the utmost respect.
For a moment, his gaze flickered to the sword at his waist.
Was he truly a hero, or was he merely a visitor who had opened his eyes to this world while trying to escape a dungeon?
(The old man was still talking)
Meanwhile, the road began to incline slightly. The wagon moved more heavily now. They were ascending a small hill.
(The old man shouted with a booming voice; surely, there wasn't a soul who didn't hear him)
—We are almost at the Palace! Everyone, get ready!!
Yusha instinctively looked toward the back of the wagon. Some were chatting and joking amongst themselves, some were checking the supplies one last time, and others were combing their hair and straightening their clothes. At that moment, the Palace began to reveal itself with its light-colored facade, garden walls embossed with lions, and towering, magnificent structures. It stood before them in all its splendor.